Rebels are asserting control in Damascus as Israel and other countries carry out military operations.
Follow live updates here.
As a rebel alliance tries to create a transitional government for Syria, armed factions and outside powers are still fighting to fill the void left by retreating government forces.
Kurdish-led fighters in northern Syria who are backed by the United States said early Wednesday that they had agreed to a U.S.-brokered cease-fire in Manbij, a city where they have been battling to fend off forces backed by Turkey.
And the Israeli military has launched hundreds ofairstrikes against military assets across Syria in recent days, saying it was trying to keep them out of the hands of Islamist extremists.
Here’s a guide to understanding where things stand in Syria, and what may come next.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Who’s in charge?
- Who is Ahmed al-Shara?
- What is Israel doing in Syria?
- What is Turkey doing?
- What is the U.S. doing?
- What are the internal factions in Syria?
Who’s in charge?
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, whose name means Organization for the Liberation of the Levant, was the main rebel group leading the latest offensive, launching a surprise assault in late November from northwestern Syria that quickly led to the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. It is now leading the transition to a new Syrian government.
Mohammed al-Bashir, a rebel leader affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, announced in a brief address on Syrian television on Tuesday that he was assuming the role of caretaker prime minister until March. 1. Mr. al-Bashir previously served as the head of the administration in rebel-held territory in the northwest.
Approximate advance of the Israeli military into the buffer zone
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Damascus
Lebanon
Israel shared photos of its troops on Mount Hermon.
SYRIA
Reported Israeli military advances into buffer zone, as of Dec. 9
Military zone closed by Israel
Israel told residents in five villages to stay in their homes.
GOLAN
HEIGHTS
Demilitarized
buffer zone
Israel
Sea of
Galilee
SYRIA
JORDAN
10 miles
Area of detail
Lebanon
Israel shared photos of its troops on Mount Hermon.
Reported Israeli military advances into buffer zone, as of Dec. 9
Military zone closed by Israel
Israel told residents in five villages to stay in their homes.
Israel
GOLAN
HEIGHTS
Demilitarized
buffer zone
SYRIA
Sea of
Galilee
SYRIA
JORDAN
10 miles
Area of detail
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Source: Elections - nytimes.com
